Flax is one of the oldest plants used to make material, its history goes back thousands of years. Find out where linen comes from, how the flax plant is grown, what are the typical properties of linen and why we have chose to combine it with lyocell and cotton for our bed linen collections.

Growing and Preparing Flax for Spinning

The flax we use at Lejaan comes from France. France has the ideal climatic conditions and soil for flax cultivation, it’s low-maintenance and does not require high levels of nutrients, making it an environmentally sustainable crop. It is planted in spring and, thanks to its rapid growth (approx. 4 metres in 3 months), it is harvested in summer. The whole plant is processed so that the fibres are extracted not only from the stem but also from the roots.

After harvesting, the flax is spread out in the fields where it is exposed to moisture, the sun and wind. This process, known as dew retting, breaks down pectin (pectin = a natural substance in plants that acts as a glue that binds the fibres in their stems) and allows the fibres to separate. This is followed by mechanical combing and spinning of the fibres into yarn, which is used to weave linen fabrics.

The Typical Properties and Main Benefits of Linen

If you’re in search of the ideal bed linen material in terms of its beneficial properties, linen is the winner. It has great thermoregulatory properties, keeping you warm in winter and cool in the summer months as it’s a moisture wicking fabric. It is also naturally resistant to high temperatures and hardwearing, ensuring its longevity and ease of maintenance. In addition, linen is and anti-static fabric and naturally hypoallergenic.

Even though linen has so many benefits, its disadvantage is that it has a tendency to wrinkle and crease more and it also has a coarser texture. However, these disadvantages can be reduced by combining the fabric with other materials such as lyocell and cotton.

Combining Linen, Lyocell and Cotton

At Lejaan, we decided to take advantage of the long-known benefits of linen and to complement them with lyocell and cotton for an even better result. TENCEL™ Lyocell, made from the cellulose of eucalyptus trees, brings softness, smoothness and the wrinkle-resistant feature, while cotton simplifies care of the fabric. This ideal blend preserves the natural qualities of linen, such as durability or thermoregulating properties, while minimising its drawbacks.